Wow, awesome.
Honestly, I wonder if there is another word that can describe this situation well.
Charles freezes all of Evangeline's property.
He has declared that she's no longer a part of the Diago Duchy.
After all, power comes not only from status, but also from money.
However, her money is now burned and completely dried up.
"Brother."
That alone is not only shocking for Evangeline and confusing to her, but drives her even crazier since the finances have all been entrusted to me.
He's basically saying that if I don't want to, she will have to say goodbye to the duchy forever.
It means that I'm the only one who's able to release the property back to her.
Not only am I able to use her personal property, but I will be in control of all the finances for the duke.
Is it the rise of real power?
What kind of rice cake is this?
(T/N: it's an idiom where having rice cakes means having plenty of money because back in the day, people were lucky if they had rice, let alone rice cakes.)
I pull myself together to keep myself from smiling.
Otherwise, I know I will laugh.
For Evangeline, it's the worst situation possible.
She was going to give me a hard time, but I'm now in a situation where I've been handed the whole duchy.
Besides, in order to solve her current situation, she has no other choice but to beg me—
It's easy to admit that she's wrong, but even if I hold a knife to her throat, she won't admit it in front of me.
Still, Evangeline has a mother-in-law on her side.
However—
"I better tell our mother, too."
It's scary to think about such a thing, because even though Charles is her big brother, he has blocked Evangeline's escape route.
What a scary person
He looks at Evangeline, reaffirming that he was someone she absolutely should not have met.
Her expression that says she thought he was joking turns pale.
It's surprising how a young princess can grow old so quickly.
"I'm sorry."
Evangeline quickly turns toward me and bows her head as if she has accurately grasped Charles's intention.
Ohh.
She's pretty fast this time.
Then I look at Charles, wondering if the last time I had made a mistake at dinner was also when he had a threatening expression like this, but his face doesn't seem too different.
It doesn't look like he's trying to train Evangeline with anything like this.
Well, using money as a weapon when your child doesn't listen is not good discipline.
Though, it's the biggest punishment for Evangeline.
"Alright, I'll accept that apology."
"Brother, my sister says she has forgiven me."
Sister? Who is your sister?
My eyes fill with absurdity as I stare at Evangeline.
"So please, forgive me, too."
"......"
"Honestly, I got kicked out of my house and now I've even lost all my money... That's way too much of a joke. Oh, and the finances—"
Evangeline chews on her lips at the end of the word 'finance.'
"The duke's finances are almost comparable to that of the imperial palace. That's too much for Sister to manage, isn't it?"
"Well, I'm pretty smart."
"......"
Of course, she seems to have expected me to say, 'You're right, Princess.'
She opens her mouth slightly at my shameless bragging.
"If it's difficult, then we'll go back and discuss it again."
Even though Charles is doing this to threaten Evangeline right in front of my eyes, there's really no way he can really leave it to me.
"Well, yes. Brother, hurry up. Ledin is surprised and waiting for you."
"What?"
"You said earlier that you are canceling the freezing of my assets."
"When was the last time you heard me reversing what I've said?"
Charles responds indifferently to Evangeline's words.
"Then are you really, really going to kick me out?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Are you asking because you don't know?"
As if embarrassed by Evangeline's words, he narrows his forehead and scratches his temple.
Despite the signals from Charles, she can't read the situation before and after, so she shouts.
Things like—
"Yes, what did I do that was so wrong? Didn't I just tell an illegitimate child that she is 'an illegitimate child'?"
She accidentally hits a sore spot again.
Once again, Evangeline's foolishness causes her to confess her own sin.
Catherine's problem comes to a close, and since Charles has gotten to this point, I thought I'd let it slide.
You keep going too far.
As I said before, I don't have a problem.
The real problem is Abella, whose hands still tremble slightly, as if she's still crying over the wounds that have been exposed while being deep inside me.
Abella's wounds—
"That was my fault. Brother, if this rumor takes a wrong—"
"How do you think the rumors about Princess's behavior would spread, one where you took a family's personal affair and spread it around in person?"
"What? That's—"
"Surely, you're not going to say that it's fair. That it was for your brother's sake, and that there was nothing you wouldn't do for the family. You're not going to say that, are you?"
Her lips part as her eyes glisten from my sharp words.
"We all know that was not an act of righteousness. It was vulgar, and it was for yourself, not for your brother."
I give a cutting glare, without any pretense of amusement.
Then, the corners of Evangeline's eyes grow red and clear tears slowly fill up.
When she turns her head with tears in her eyes,
"Brother."
Smart.
A knock is heard.
Wow, the art of timing.
How is it possible to knock at a time like this? I turn my head, wanting to praise whoever it is.
"Your Excellency, it is Edgar."
"Come in."
As soon as Charles gives permission, Edgar enters the room and bows his head with a serious expression that's not playful.
With a very serious face that is not like usual—
How can I not be anxious?
My heart flutters slightly, and I feel that the irregular heartbeat will be an extension of today, so I close my eyes.
"Your Excellency."
Edgar brings up his business in a quiet voice.
"It is said that Madame Erst has fallen in the capital."
"......"
Again, my intuition isn't wrong.
As soon as he finishes—
"What? What's wrong with Mom?"
Evangeline immediately erases her crying face, screams, and then looks at both Charles and Edgar.
"So—"
"I think you should go to the capital quickly."
"......"
"No matter how much Madam Erst has broken the ties—"
Isn't she your mother though?
If the news of her collapse is sent to Lapel as an emergency, it means that the condition of the former Duchess is serious.
Don't tell me it's already...
It must have been conveyed
Even if there are no cell phones in this world, there are wizards.
If they make up their mind and want to send a message, maybe the sending speed would be similar to that of a cell phone.
Because this type of gossip spreads faster.
But that is all for nothing because I'm not going to the capital.
Whether the mother-in-law is sick or not.
It's not like I have to go and take care of her.
Not at all.
She broke the ties first because she doesn't like me, and she's no longer the duchess.
It just occurs to me that maybe his capital trip will be a little longer.
I glance at Edgar to see how long the schedule will be.
"And—"
He also stares at me and mutters.
"An urgent message for Abella ...."
What message do you have that needs to be rushed to me? As I tilt my head, a family suddenly crosses my mind.
Surely...
"It is said that Baron Farhan also fell."
That assumption becomes a reality.
Damn it!
YOU ARE READING
Divorce Manual
RomanceHaving lived as a small citizen of the Republic of Korea, I was somehow reborn as a supporting character in a historical novel as the wife of the villain, Charles Diago, who fell for the heroine and died after committing all kinds of evil deeds! My...